Just an hour outside of Tokyo in Saitama lies a foreigner-friendly
retreat that provides a convenient and less-expensive alternative
to Hakone. In a location famous for, and named after, a stunning
park that makes Yoyogis look like your neighbors
backyard, Shinrin Koen dishes up a host of activities that
cater to everyone from the lazy to the energetic.
If kayaking, fishing, horse-riding, cycling, tennis and golf
dont provide you with enough alternatives, you can even
get married at the Heritage Hotel, which has extensive wedding
facilities. In fact, the Heritage is central to this great
escape, as it offers packages for foreigners that includes
accommodations, indoor and outdoor onsen, a golf course, a
six-course dinner and a buffet breakfastall for ¥11,000-¥18,000
per person. Hotel staff will even pick you up from the station
if notified in advance.

First up for sightseeing is the park itself. Here, cycling
enthusiasts can ride a 6km route surrounded by an impressive
collection of indigenous plant life (all of which are labeled
for those who take that kind of thing seriously). Theres
a massive outdoor pool for the summer and a theme bus that
regularly transports sightseers on a 90-minute trip around
the park. Restaurants and strategic viewpoints put the finishing
touches on a solid day out.

For something different, Saitama Farm Park, just a 10-minute
drive from the Heritage Hotel, offers mini-golf (or putter-golf,
as its called in Japan) and a cross-country cycling
course with old-fashioned penny-farthing bicycles available
for hiredont forget your bowler hat, champagne,
and strawberries and cream. A tranquil river further along
the drag provides an ideal spot for kayaking; boats, helmets,
life vests and oars are available for rent. Nearby Namegawa
Joba Horse-riding Club caters to those who like to view the
countryside from a different angle and at a different pace.
Experienced riders can try their hand or earn their spurs
on the show-jumping obstacle course, and lessons are available
for first-timers.

For the kids, Saitama Childrens Zoo boasts a collection
of koalas, giraffes, kangaroos, zebras, camels and birds.
The Saitama Museum of Rivers is, unfortunately, 25 minutes
away from the station and from central Shinrin Koen, and possibly
not worth the taxi fare there and back if you are not traveling
by car. Nevertheless, it has a windmill and interesting information
on, well, rivers.

Back at the hotel, its feet upunless youre
getting marriedin the sauna, the large outdoor swimming
pool with a center island, and the indoor, outdoor and mixed
onsen. As summer approaches, the Heritage promises a series
of poolside barbecues as an alternative to the Japanese/Western-style
set dinner.
Since the Japanese economic bubble burst, golf has become
cheaper and cheaper, yet youd be hard-pressed to find
a round as cheap as at the Heritage. Although its a
nine-hole course, the ¥6,000 (weekdays) and ¥7,500
(weekends and holidays) fee will get you a round of 18, including
onsen (the Japanese equivalent of the proverbial 19th hole).
The course is not the areas most taxing, and it wont
exactly have those Tiger wannabes backing away in fear, but
the greens are true and the fairways in good shape, providing
a good way to spoil a walk for the avid golfer.

While Shinrin Koen has no shortage of outdoor adventures to
choose from, it also provides the English support thats
key to getting the trip from the drawing board into motion.
Its hard to imagine that such a gem lies just a stones
throw away from the concrete jungle that is Tokyo.

TRIP TIPS
From Ikebukuro stn, take the Tobu-Tojo line to Shinrin Koen
(¥700), which is the last stop on the line. Its
advisable to shoot for the express train that leaves every
15-20min, as it takes just under an hour. Taxis and buses
are available at the station, or contact the Heritage Hotel
for transportation to wherever you plan to go. A taxi costs
approximately ¥2,000 to the hotel and the bus around ¥300.
For golf/hotel reservations, contact: Jun Abe at 03-5950-1212
or 048-536-1212. Mention Metropolis magazine to make sure
you get the foreigners discount. See www.hotel-heritage.co.jp
(Japanese).